Description
Santa’s Whiskers Cookies are festive, chewy buttery cookies studded with chopped red candied cherries and pecans, rolled in flaky coconut for a delightful texture and holiday flair. Perfect for Christmas baking and sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup red candied cherries, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
Coating
- 1 cup flaked coconut
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Add granulated sugar and continue beating until the mixture is fluffy. Then add milk and vanilla extract and beat well to combine.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Mix: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture, beating until well incorporated. Gently stir in the finely chopped red candied cherries and chopped pecans.
- Shape Rolls: Divide the dough and shape into three logs, each about 7 inches in length.
- Coat with Coconut: Roll each dough log evenly in the flaked coconut until fully coated on all sides.
- Chill Dough: Wrap the coconut-coated logs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least four hours to firm up the dough.
- Preheat Oven: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice Cookies: Remove chilled dough logs from refrigerator, unwrap, and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices carefully to maintain shape.
- Bake Cookies: Place the slices on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and cookies are set.
- Cool: Transfer baked cookies to wire racks and allow them to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Be sure to chill the dough thoroughly to make slicing easier and to maintain cookie shape during baking.
- You can substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds based on your preference.
- For a softer coconut coating, gently press the coconut flakes onto the dough instead of rolling.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to one week to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
